SAN JOSE — Sharks franchise icon Patrick Marleau was the star attraction coming into Monday night”s game at SAP Center.

Leave it to someone playing in his 10th career NHL game to steal some of the spotlight.

Defenseman Tim Heed”s goal on a bullet of a slap shot in the third period helped the Sharks top the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 as they moved above .500 for the first time this season.

Joel Ward”s empty net goal with 2:13 to go in the third period proved to be the winner as the Sharks, returning from a 3-2 road trip, put forth their most complete game of the season.

The game”s getting to where it needs to be, said Sharks captain Joe Pavelski, who scored his third goal of the season in the second period. I think the road trip, we learned a lot about ourselves, how we need to play and what guys can give us.

It was really good to see coming back first game from a long trip like that. Played probably the best game of the season.

Heed”s goal, the second of his career, came on a Sharks power play as he took a Brent Burns pass and ripped a shot past Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen.

I saw that their defenseman was a bit more on the strong side there, Heed said of the play. So I thought I saw an opening on the far side. It went in, so it was a good feeling.

Another big shot, on the power play, Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said. You”ve got to respect that. I”m sure people will get to know him and the fact he”s got a big shot.

Heed also assisted on Pavelski”s goal, and now has six points this season in nine NHL games this year. Signed as a free agent out of Sweden in 2016, Heed was a standout for the Barracuda last season, and has seen his confidence grow with every game he plays with the big club.

Probably in the beginning, you make the easy pass or the easy play, Heed said. Since I”m getting more comfortable out there, I”m trying to make tougher plays when I think there”s an opportunity for it.

The Sharks outshot the Leafs 11-2 in the second period and held a 35-11 advantage in shots by the midway point of the third.

The Sharks also did not take a penalty as they held the Leafs, including Marleau, to 18 shots for the game.

Marleau received a huge cheer once he came out for pregame warm-ups, another roar after it was announced he would be in the Maple Leafs” starting lineup and a long ovation for well over a minute in a pregame ceremony.

It was great. I had a tear in my eye, Sharks center and fellow icon Joe Thornton said. You spend so much time with him, he”s like a brother. You spend 13 years with a guy and you create such a big bond with him. It was classy.

Regardless of whether a former franchise cornerstone was on the other side of the ice, the Sharks knew they would be in for a great test as they began their five-game homestand.

The Maple Leafs had lost three of their past four but came into Monday tied for the NHL lead in goals for with 45.

Auston Matthews scored his ninth of the season in the first period and Nazem Kadri, who centered the line with Marleau and Leo Komarov, scored his seventh with 1:10 left in regulation.

The biggest issue for the Leafs so far this season was their goals against with 40, something the Sharks were looking to exploit. Andersen came into Monday with a 2-7-1 career record against the Sharks, and had allowed 17 goals in the last four games.

The Brent Burns-Joakim Ryan defense pair was matched up mainly against the Marleau line, and Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Justin Braun largely had the responsibility of slowing down the Matthews” line.

We got contributions from everybody, DeBoer said. A little bit of the fear in the belly of the highest scoring team in the league coming in here maybe grabs your attention a little bit, and our guys did a real good job.

The Sharks had won nine straight against Toronto coming into Monday, with their last loss coming Jan. 11, 2011, a 4-2 result at SAP Center in which Marleau scored both of San Jose”s goals.

Also, Jones came into Monday with a 6-0-0 lifetime record and a 1.31 goals against average vs. Toronto.

The big thing I took out of tonight was that was the best game we”ve had this year where we had 20 guys contributing, DeBoer said. I didn”t hesitate to put anyone over the boards in any situation. Everyone was tilting the ice the right way when we were out there. That”s what we need.

• Defenseman Paul Martin skated again Monday morning and it appears he”ll be able to come off of injured reserve and rejoin practice sometime this week, according to DeBoer. Martin, who had offseason ankle surgery, suffered a setback earlier this month and has been on injured reserve since Oct. 12.

• Thornton picked up a secondary assist on Pavelski”s goal, giving him 1,399 career points and moving him past Jari Kurri for sole possession of 20th place on the NHL”s all time scoring list.